Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-06-09

GENERAL JOHN u. EREMONT.-FTOm FOrLrall
in Harper's
time General Mcclellan was nominated
for the Presidency. In the first half OF
the year the prospects for immediate Union
success were not assuring.
Grant had failed to take Richmond, and
was for the time, at least, held at bay by
Lee. In the Southwest General Banks
had met disaster and so long as Sherman
was confronted by General Joseph z.
Johnston, the Confederates under the lat
ter officer continued to make the greatest
possible resistance with the least possible
loss.
But very soon after the opponents of the
war had assembled in convention, and by
resolutions declared the war failure, the
Union forces met with a series Of brilliant
successes.
Commodore Farragut secured q wonder
full victory over the Confederates at Mo-
bile bay. Atlanta was captured by Sher-
man, and Sheridan completely annihilated
the hitherto successful rebel forces of the
Shenandoah valley.
These victories added immensely to Lin
coins chances of success
Much interest was felt in the result OF
the election among the soldiers.
The various platforms, letters of accept
ance, ETC., were read and discussed. Most
of the men, however, favored Lincoln's re-
election. As soon as General Fremont
saw that his candidacy could do nothing
save divide the war party, he promptly
withdrew his name, and this narrowed
the race down to contest between Lin
coin and Mcclellan.
McClellan's followers were called
''Peace Men," and sPeace at Any Price
Party while those who supported the
war maintained that durable peace could
come only from vigorous prosecution Of
the war till the last enemy of the Govern
ment laid down his musket.
Early in November the election came of
and proper agents came from the States OF
Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio to take the votes
of troops from these commonwealths.
But the Legislature of Illinois had de
creed that IL was illegal for soldiers tovote
when in the field, hence Illinois soldiers
were denied the privilege Of casting their
ballots.
The writer had just attained his major
ity, and, having long been an admirer Of
Lincoln, felt great disappointment in not
having an opportunity to vote for him.
Lincoln's majority over Mcclellan was
overwhelming and gave him ten times as
many votes in the electoral college as his
competitor received. The writer accom-
panied the command upon one of the ex-
petitions to the Atchafalaya, spoken of in
the last number.
The twenty odd miles traversed was
through country that had been stripped
Of every thing in the way of eatables
The banks Of the Atchafalaya were
reached, but the stream was not crossed
A few stray shots passed between the Con
federates upon one side of the stream and
the Federals upon the other. Here several
days were spent, and, the time banging
heavy, a rude set of chess were cut Of
wood and many games enjoyed.
Among the forces was regiment Of SO
called Mexican cavalry.
This organization had been made up next
the Mexican frontier and the men were
nearly all small in stature and had swarthy
compilations.
They were expert horsemen, however,
and could throw the lasso with much skill
Toward the end OF November the CON-
mand was moved to the mouth of White
river, much further up tho Mississippi
Here huts were built
The writer had one of these about eight
feet square. The sides were made OF
boards, the roof of canvas; at one end was
a door and at the other an open fire place
made of mud and split pieces Of lumber.
The hut had bed upon one side and the
medicine chest upon the other, and as it was
low there was just room left to turn round
in and stand erect near the center. Never
theless the wriser was contented and happy
and was hoping the winter might be spent
in that locality, when an order came for all
to report at New Orleans.
So all hands went aboard steamboat
and once more went down the Mississippi.